Say Nothing... (The Speak Series Book 2) (29 page)

"Before you get mad, I just had him check to see if your car was still there. I panicked when I couldn't get a hold of you, and I didn't want to worry your family."

"Ben, does he have a key to the apartment?"

"No. Why would you ask that? I know how you feel about him. I wouldn't intentionally make you uncomfortable."

"I'm sorry. I know you wouldn't."

"Look, I'm not expecting you to call me every minute of every day. I just need to know that you're safe."

"It won't happen again. Promise." The shuffling stops. Emotions are running high, and I'm not sure what else to say to fix this.

"Are we okay?" I ask.

He answers after a long pause. "Yeah . . . we're fine. I just need a hot shower and something to eat. Will you be around later?"

"My sisters just got here. I'm not sure what they have planned for today, but I'll have my phone with me."

"Okay."

"Okay."

Our mingled breathing is the only sound on the line as we wait for the other to hang up.

Click . . . Silence.

Clutching the phone to my chest, I head back into the living room.

"So are you on timeout?" Alba asks as I make my way into the room.

"Shut up. What are you guys doing here, anyway?"

"When Ben couldn't track you down, he texted us to see if we had heard from you. You weren't answering our calls either, so we decided to take a road trip."

He must have been really worried to reach out to my sisters. Now, I feel like an even bigger jerk.

"What the hell were you drinking?" Amelie asks looking around. "You hid all the evidence."

"What do you mean?"

"Ben said you were sloshed. We were expecting to find you under a pile of wine bottles with "All By Myself" playing on repeat."
Dicks.

"Yeah, Relz. Did you go on a drunken cleaning spree? I've never seen your place look this good," Alba asks.

A chill runs through me as I look around the living room. I drank almost two bottles of wine and could barely walk from what I remember. There should be an empty glass lying around, a bottle, something. The trash bin in the kitchen is empty and is sporting a fresh liner. If I weren't suffering from a massive headache, I would think I dreamed the whole thing.

My dream. Ben was holding me, but then he called me his sweet girl.

"Earth to Ari," Alba snaps getting my attention. "You look like you’ve just seen a ghost. You good?" I nod, still trying to work it out in my head.

"Pack a bag. Mom's worried about you. She wants you to spend the night at our house."

For once, I don't argue. I'm completely creeped out at the thought of staying here alone tonight.

Shit.
The relief I'd hoped to get from talking to her has turned to anger and frustration. I don't even know what I'm mad at. She said she was sorry and that she had passed out just as I suspected. The jet lag must be catching up to me. Tossing my phone on the counter, I head to the master bathroom to take a shower.

When Larry said I would be staying in a loft, I was expecting a small studio-type apartment, not this three bedroom monstrosity. My eyes almost bugged out when I walked in. The place is massive and takes up the sixth and seventh floors of the Victorian-style building. Large windows give me a perfect view of Trevor Square.

Feeling more relaxed after my shower, I raid the kitchen for something to eat. Once again, no expense was spared. I won't have to shop for the rest of the month. The refrigerator and pantry are fully stocked with anything I could possibly want. Exhaustion is starting to set in, so I decide on a sandwich and a bag of chips. Grabbing an ale from the fridge to wash it all down, I plant myself on the couch and enjoy a quiet dinner.

My phone buzzes with an incoming text.

Ari: Sisters are kidnapping me. I'm staying the night with my parents. I love you.

My thumb traces over those last three words, and I feel like a prick for not saying them to her before I hung up the phone. Relieved that she'll be with her family tonight, I reply to her message.

Ben: Glad you won't be alone. I love you too.

"Why are you grinning like a loon?" Flipping my phone over, I show Alba Ben's response.

"Oh my God, are you dense? Of course, he loves you, you idiot. Do you think he'd be tracking down half of L.A. to come check on you if he didn't?" I shrug.

"Just meet us at home," she says, closing my car door completely exasperated.

"
Mija
.” My mom is at her usual post in the kitchen.

"Hi, Mom." I lean in to kiss her cheek, and she whacks me in the arm.

"Ow. What was that for?"

"That's for making that poor boy stress out half the night."

"I'm surprised her phone didn't explode. You should have seen all the missed calls and messages, Mom." I narrow my eyes at Alba, and she sticks her tongue at me.
Little shit.

"Arely." When my mom uses my full name, I know I'm in trouble.

"
That boy loves you, we all see it. So you need to put on your big girl
chonies
and get yourself together. He should be concentrating on his internship, not worrying about your safety."
Well, if that wasn't a kick in the balls.

"Your sisters told me how upset he was on the phone.
Y tu como una borracha
."

"Mom, I'm not a drunk. Geez, and thanks for being all Team Ben. I was upset about him leaving and had one too many glasses on an empty stomach. I already apologized to him. It won't happen again."

She pulls me in for a hug. "It better not. You're not too old to whack with the
chancla
," she says making me laugh.

She put the fear of God in us with that flip-flop. It was like a boomerang; she would get it to cut around a corner when we'd run away from her as little girls. Just the threat of getting whacked kept me from acting up. Alba, on the other hand, probably has the words Puerto Rico permanently printed on her ass. She gets the
chancla
award hands down. The girl still doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut.

"What are you cooking?" The kitchen already smells amazing, and there are a few pots boiling on the stove.

"Pork chops, tostones, red beans and rice." My stomach growls; I haven't eaten since yesterday.

"Yum, do you need any help?"

"No. I'm almost done. If you're hungry, your dad packed up some leftovers from breakfast in the fridge."

Half an omelet later, I start feeling a little human again. As much as I hate to admit it, it's nice to have my family around to distract me today. I'm curled up on the couch watching
Dirty Dancing
for the millionth time when Amelie chucks my cell phone at me.

"Are you trying to give him a stroke?"

Dammit, I was too busy watching Johnny Castle rescue Baby from a corner and forgot my phone charging in the kitchen.

"Hey."

"How's it going at your parents?" Ben's voice is gravelly.

"Good. Were you asleep?"

He has to be exhausted from traveling, and I'm sure I didn't help the situation by being M.I.A.

"Yeah, I made myself something to eat and must have dozed off. I'm gonna hit the sack, but I just wanted to tell you good night."

"Okay, maybe we can FaceTime tomorrow. I want to see your new digs."

"Okay, babe, sounds good. We'll talk tomorrow. Have a good night. Love you."

"I love you too."

It's only four weeks.

I'm completely disoriented. The sun-filled room is blinding, and it takes me a minute to remember where I am. Sliding my phone out from under my pillow, I check the time. It’s 8:00
A.M.
, too early to be awake and too late back home to call Ari.

Resting an arm over my eyes, I contemplate the rest of my day. Sightseeing is an option, but I'm not in the mood.
Man, not knowing anyone in this city sucks.
It's around midnight back in L.A.
Amos is probably out somewhere.
I shoot him a text in hopes he might have some ideas.

Me: I'm up way too early. Have a whole day with nothing planned. Any suggestions?

He calls just a few minutes later.

"Hey,
mijo
. How are you feeling?"

"I don't know whether I'm coming or going, man. This jet lag is no joke."

He chuckles. "Yeah, it'll take a few days for you to get accustomed to the time change. It's good you're up early. It will make it easier to get on a schedule."

"So do you have any suggestions on what I should do or see around here? I'm afraid if I don't get up and get moving, then I'll sleep the day away."

"What part of the city are you in?"

"I'm near Trevor Park."

"You might want to do a guided bus tour. You'll have the choice of hopping on and off or just enjoying the sights from your seat. It'll get you better acquainted with the city without having to do too much walking."

"Thanks. That sounds like a plan. So what are you up to? Are you heading back here anytime soon?"

It might be nice to have him here to show me around. I won't be meeting the other interns until Monday, and from what Larry told me, there's only one other guy.

"It'll be at least another month. Ari's firm was able to prevent Jalen from serving any jail time, but he has to do some court-mandated DUI classes and about three hundred hours of community service. We'll be recording here for a while."